Here’s today’s bike ride. Temperature at beginning: 52 degrees.
From today’s ride
Why I ride
Biking is something I both love and hate. The conflicting emotions arise from the undeniable physical effort it demands. However, this exertion is precisely what makes it an excellent form of exercise. Most days, I dedicate over an hour to my cycling routine, and in doing so, I’ve discovered a unique opportunity to enjoy a good book or podcast. The rhythmic pedaling and the wind against my face create a calming backdrop that allows me to fully immerse myself in the content. In these moments, the time spent on the bike seems worthwhile, as I can’t help but appreciate the mental and physical rewards it offers.
I especially like having ridden. The post-biking feeling is one of pure satisfaction. The endorphin rush, coupled with a sense of accomplishment, makes the initial struggle and fatigue worthwhile. As I dismount and catch my breath, I relish the sensation of having conquered the challenge, both physically and mentally. It’s a reminder that the things we sometimes love to hate can often be the ones that bring us the most fulfillment. In the end, the love-hate relationship with biking only deepens my appreciation for the sport, as it continually pushes me to overcome my own limitations and embrace the rewards that follow the effort.
Why you should ride
To reduce stress levels:
Regular cycling can act as a powerful stress reliever for several reasons:
- Physical Exercise: Engaging in physical activity like cycling triggers the release of endorphins, often referred to as the body’s natural painkillers and mood elevators. These biochemical changes in the brain can provide a natural ‘high’, commonly known as the “runner’s high,” which is also attainable through cycling.
- Rhythm and Repetition: The rhythmic nature of cycling – the consistent pedaling motion – has a calming effect, much like a meditation practice. This rhythmic repetition can help shift focus away from stressors and channel attention into the physical sensation of movement, which can be therapeutic.
- Outdoor Environment: Cycling outdoors exposes individuals to sunlight, which helps regulate the body’s natural circadian rhythms, improves sleep, and can increase the body’s production of vitamin D. Exposure to daylight, especially in the morning, can reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
- Engagement with Surroundings: When cycling, especially in scenic environments, the sensory experience – seeing the landscape, smelling the air, feeling the breeze – can promote mindfulness and presence in the moment, reducing rumination and worry that often accompany stress.
- Escape from Stressors: A bike ride provides an opportunity to take a break from stressful environments or situations. It offers a temporary escape that allows for mental recovery and perspective-gaining, which is essential in managing chronic stress.
- Cardiovascular Health: Stress can have direct effects on cardiovascular health, and cycling, being an excellent cardiovascular exercise, helps lower blood pressure and heart rate in the long term, which are often elevated due to stress.
- Social Interaction: For those who cycle in groups, the social interaction that accompanies it can further reduce stress. Social support is a well-known buffer against stress, and group rides or community cycling events can foster a sense of belonging and collective enjoyment.
- Achievement and Confidence: Completing a challenging ride or achieving a personal milestone in cycling can enhance one’s confidence and self-esteem. Setting and reaching goals through cycling can give a sense of accomplishment that can combat feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Improved Sleep: Regular cycling, by virtue of physical exertion and stress reduction, can contribute to better sleep patterns. Quality sleep is one of the most effective stress management tools, as it allows the body and mind to recover and regenerate.
- Distraction: Cycling demands a level of concentration – navigating the terrain, maintaining balance, and sometimes, strategizing in traffic. This required focus can serve as a distraction, allowing a person to take a mental break from stress-inducing thoughts or tasks.
By incorporating cycling into one’s routine, it becomes a sustainable stress management practice. The benefits are not just immediate in terms of the post-exercise feeling of relaxation, but also cumulative, as regular cycling can contribute to a more balanced and less stress-reactive nervous system over time.
Here’s a couple of links to groups I like. Hopefully, they’ll encourage you to start riding a bike, no matter your age.
Cycling for those aged 70+(opens in a new tab)
Solitary Cycling(opens in a new tab)
My bike
A Rockhopper by Specialized. I purchased it November 2021 from Venture Out in Guntersville; Mike is top notch! So is the bike. The ‘old’ man seat was salvaged from an old Walmart bike (update: seat replaced, new photo to follow, someday).
What I’m listening to
Novel:
Amazon abstract:
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series continues: Lisbeth Salander must face the most important battle of her life, and will finally put her past to rest in this thriller that will “leave Salander’s legion of followers clamoring for more” (The Wall Street Journal). • Also known as the Millennium series
Mikael Blomkvist is trying to reach Lisbeth Salander—the fierce, unstoppable girl with the dragon tattoo. He needs her help unraveling the identity of a man who died with Blomkvist’s phone number in his pocket—a man who does not exist in any official records and whose garbled last words hinted at knowledge that would be dangerous to important people. But Lisbeth has disappeared. She’s sold her apartment in Stockholm. She’s gone dark. She’s told no one where she is. And no one is aware that at long last she’s got her primal enemy, her twin sister, Camilla, squarely in her sights.
Look for the latest book in the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series, The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons, coming soon!
Blinkist summary
The Science of Storytelling, by Will Storr
Podcast episodes:
Waking Up app series/courses:
Nothing today.
Here’s a few photos from previous riding adventures:
The Pencil-Driven Life 